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Those were just some of the words used to describe yesterday’s scenes of chaos as a mass convoy of scrambler bike riders gathered in an act of defiance aimed squarely at the powers-that-be.

After the summer’s huge crackdown on the biker thugs that cause misery across Merseyside, as many as 60 riders gathered in a posturing procession of wheelies and ski masks that left people scared, angry and frustrated.

As reports come in of more scrambler bike antics this morning - though on a much smaller scale - here is a round-up of where the bikes were seen, and the anger Sunday’s rubber-burning chaos inspired.

Map marking the sightings of scrambler bikes on Sunday. Several reports suggested as many as 60 vehicles were involved, though others, such as in West Kirby were said to be much smaller gatherings

THE EAST LANCS: ‘How long before innocents are killed?’

The large scrambler bike squadron converged on the busy East Lancs, where one onlooker spoke of the risks the riders were taking.

They said: “There were about 45 scramblers and quad bikes going along the East Lancs today, about 1pm, stopping all the traffic, running every red light. We followed them all the way into the city centre. I’m surprised there wasn’t an accident as they were lining up to stop traffic and pedestrians to run these red lights along really busy roads.”

Another report came in from someone that had witnessed the same incident: “Unbelievable behaviour. Bikes driving wrong way down the East Lancs against busy traffic at 1pm. No regard for anyone. How long before innocents are killed?”

CROXTETH - ‘It was like a never-ending wave of bikes’

According to this report, the convoy arrived onto the East Lancs from Willow Way - via a skipped red light:

“At least 20-30 bikers all on scramblers/scooters/quad bikes came from down the back of Willow Way, Croxteth, through a red light into oncoming traffic.

“This forced the oncoming [traffic] to come to a complete stop. I was doing 40mph with my young nephew in the car and had to slam on the brakes.

“These reckless idiots have no regard for any other road user, it was like a never ending wave of bikes. The majority of the scramblers had L plates and some had no registration.

“As some of the cars were trying to go around them the bikers came to a complete stop, blocking the whole road, allowing bikes behind them to go across.”

Several reports came into the ECHO’S Old Hall Street base describing the fear and frustration of seeing the bikers drive through the city centre on an afternoon busy with tourists, shoppers and families.

“I got caught up on The Strand with them, how ironic, right outside police HQ... [they] did scare me, I had my little boy in car and they were menacing.”

‘It felt a bit like Mad Max’

Another witness added: “I was walking by the Albert Dock at about 4pm when the bikes tore past, heading north.

“Some of the bikers were burning rubber outside the police headquarters, and causing a bit of a fuss.

“It felt a bit like Mad Max. My partner was a bit frightened by all the commotion, but she’s fine now. It was a bit intimidating, but quite a sight.”

TUEBROOK: ‘From the streets of the city centre to the roads of Tuebrook’

One driver told the ECHO he saw the convoy in several locations: “Just reporting on the scrambler bikes causing chaos in Liverpool today... I have been on the road today and as I was leaving the city centre they cut me up and just went though the red lights forcing me to stop.

“They travelled along the Strand and then they passed my along Rocky Lane in Tuebrook.

“They need to follow the rules of the road because if they did they would be no problem.”

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EVERTON: ‘Rats - that’s what they are’

A dog walker in Everton Park reported spotting about 30 scrambler bikes at around 6.30pm.

He said: “About 30 bikers came over the hills, some of them doing wheelies with no regards to anyone. Police were parked outside. They cannot do anything about it - there’s too many of them.

“These riders are giving other bikers a bad name. It’s just a matter of time before someone is killed. They think it’s funny to meet up with others to cause havoc. I hope there parents are so proud of these rats, because that’s what they are.”

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SPEKE: ‘Police helicopters above’

One of the first reports of the convoy at its peak of sixty-odd bikes came from Alderwood Avenue, where the police helicopter was said to be watching from the skies.

AIGBURTH: Mass gathering on the Prom

Scrambler bikers gather at Otterspool. Reader pic

The most dramatic images of yesterday came from Aigburth. The silhouette of the mass gathering on Otterspool Promenade showcased the scale of the group - and suggested they were all in it together.

Video from Riverside Drive highlights riders skipping red lights, pulling wheelies, cutting up traffic and riding on pavements. Trying to count the number of passing riders is impossible.

WEST KIRBY: ‘Children and dog walkers were frightened’

One early scrambler sighting came in from West Kirby - an isolated incident, or were they heading to meet others?

“About 11am this morning a scrambler bike with two people on raced along the sand and beach from West Kirby to Hoylake. It was very loud and frightened dog walkers and children alike.”

STANLEY ROAD: ‘No consideration for anyone’

Operation Brookdale, Merseyside Police’s annual crackdown on the illegal use of off-road bikes, saw a record breaking summer.

Backed by the ECHO’s #SCRAM campaign more than 200 bikes were seized.

Yet the trouble is clearly not over, said this reader: “Despite all the media and police hype in July about the amount of scrambler bikes that were pulled off the streets of Liverpool, I noted today on Stanley Road that there were at least 60 scrambler bikes riding around as though they owned Liverpool, giving no consideration for anybody walking on the pavement - or indeed vehicles on either side of the road.”

WEST DERBY: ‘Swerving all over the roads’

“Loads of scrambler bikes on Mill Lane, West Derby, no respect for other road users swerving all over the road. Some with L plates and some with no registration plates.”

WALTON: ‘Words were exchanged’

This onlooker saw a dispute between some of the bikers and other road users.

They said: “They are going through red lights and highly dangerous. I was at the junction of Westminster and Spellow Lane, two cars in front of me.

“The first car began to pull forward as one bike stopped in front of them and refused to move, words were exchanged to which the other bikes began to surround the car and forced the car to move back.”

BROOMS CROSS ROAD: ‘They cut up traffic’

The trouble reached Sefton too - one rider said they were cut up on Brooms Cross Road, the Switch Island to Thornton relief road.

QUEENS DRIVE - One man arrested

While people questioned Merseyside Police’s response there was at least one arrest - on Queens Drive.

ANFIELD: New report this morning

After the mass gathering on Sunday, today a new sighting came in during rush hour, with two scrambler bikes sighted weaving through traffic on Oakfield Drive.

HELP THE POLICE

If you have any details of where off-road vehicles are being illegally used, or stored, call Merseyside Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.